Blogtober Day 8 – Doctor Who: She Has Arrived

Hey guys, what’s up, welcome back to another Blogtober post! Today I am bringing you something I haven’t done before with a review of an episode of television. This is something I have been waiting for for a long time and I knew that I had to share my thoughts with you guys!

‘The Woman Who Fell To Earth’ opened quietly, with newcomer Ryan talking to a camera. It’s simple, it’s understated, it’s perfect. The episode introduces us to Ryan, Graham and Grace – three of the show’s new characters – while slowly building the tension to when, where and how we’re going to finally meet the Doctor. Ten minutes felt like a lifetime, but finally she falls through the ceiling with a crash, and boy does she make an impression. The opening says a lot about this season of Doctor Who: this is something we have been waiting for and when it arrived the whole world shook. She came, she saw, she conquered.

“New can be scary.”

What Sunday night brought us was probably one of my most anticipated pieces of television since I was a little girl. I’m not going to lie to you and say that this is something that I have always wanted, but that’s probably down to the fact that it hadn’t always occurred to me that the Doctor could be a woman. When Doctor Who was revived, I was nine years old. I didn’t even know that regeneration was a thing, so for me Christopher Eccleston was the Doctor. Then David Tennant took over and I was heartbroken. I don’t think I’ve cried at an episode of television more. Eventually I came around and fell in love, but from that moment on I was under the impression that the Doctor could only be a white man. It never occurred to me that anyone else could play this role. I think it was actually Missy, Michelle Gomez’s incarnation of the Master, that kicked my brain into gear and told me that this was possible.

“Honour who we’ve been and choose who we want to be next.”

Jodie Whittaker threw herself into the role with such gusto she was a joy to watch. She was pure energy and enthusiasm, wit, charm, compassion. She felt like the Doctor with not an ounce of hesitation. The episode was full of influences, from Chris Chibnall’s time working on Torchwood to David Tennant’s influence in Whittaker’s performance and while I don’t feel like it overshadows the essence of who her Doctor is – and who she could be – I am definitely holding out to see where her characterisation goes.

I love every member of the new cast and I think they each did a fantastic job. Ryan and Yas are young and fresh, while Graham, longing to be called Grandad, grounds the show in what it has always been. The show has taken a on a new modernity – with Ryan’s vlogging and special effects that actually aren’t terrible – while not losing one bit of its essence.

“I know exactly who I am. I’m the Doctor.”

The monster of the episode was actually kind of scary to look at, but the chase storyline was the least interesting part of this episode. We know she’s going to stop it, we know the world will be saved. That’s the Doctor; that’s what she does. The interesting part was how she utilised the world around her when she was left so vulnerable with TARDIS and no sonic screwdriver. Instead of creating weapons, she creates tools. She remains so utterly fascinating and so undeniably good, and I think that is what Doctor Who is truly about; unrelenting goodness, a strong sense of morality, it’s quirky, fast-paced and fun, and yet deep and poignant. While there were some goofy moments, this episode did not lack a moral and I think that this series has been kicked off with an epic bang!

Do you guys like Doctor Who? Did you like Jodie’s Doctor? Is this the first time you’ve watched the show?

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